Automatic slicing apparatus

Abstract

An automatic slicing apparatus reduces the likelihood of failure to make a sliced piece specimen even if continuously operated. The apparatus, on the basis of an exchange command signal, detaches a sample block attached to a cutting base and attaches a new sample block to the cutting base. The apparatus cuts a sliced piece of a predetermined thickness by moving a knife with respect to the sample block having been attached to the cutting base. The apparatus also observes the sliced piece having been cut and judges the sliced piece by comparing an observation data obtained by the observation means and a sample block cut face data. When the apparatus judges that the sliced piece is good, the apparatus transmits an exchange command signal.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application Nos. JP2006-016156 filed Jan. 25, 2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an automatic slicing apparatus and an automatic slicing method, each of which is used when making a sliced piece specimen used in a physicochemical experiment, a microscope observation and the like.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The sliced piece specimen used in the physicochemical experiment and the microscope observation is one in which a sliced piece whose thickness is several μm (e.g., 3 μm-5 μm) has been fixed onto a base plate such as slide glass. Generally, the sliced piece specimen is made by utilizing a microtome. Here, there is explained about a method of making the sliced piece specimen, which has utilized the microtome.[0006]First, after an organism sample, such as creat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances like this, and its object is to provide an automatic slicing apparatus and an automatic slicing method, each of which can continuously cut a sliced piece from plural sample blocks with a less fear of failing to make the sliced piece specimen even if continuously operated and, moreover, without causing a hand to intervene.

[0028]According to the present invention, by binarization-processing the picture data of the sliced piece, it is possible to darkly indicate a sliced piece portion, and brightly an outside of the sliced piece. By this, it is possible to more clearly grasp the external shape and the like of the sliced piece.

[0030]According to the present invention, since there is judged whether the sliced piece is good or not good by comparing the observation data having been obtained by the observation means and the sample block cut face data having been previously inputted, the judgment on whether it is good or not good can be easily performed for the fact that there exists the sample block cut face data which becomes a reference for the judgement on whether it is good or not good.

[0032]According to the present invention, from the facts that, by binarization-processing the picture data of the sliced piece, it is possible to darkly indicate the sliced piece portion, and brightly the outside of the sliced piece, and that there exists one becoming the reference for the judgment on whether it is good or not good, the judgment on whether the sliced piece is good or not good can be easily performed.

[0034]According to this invention, since the virtual sliced piece picture and the sample block cut face picture are compared with at least one element among the area element, the position element of barycenter, and the pattern matching element, it is possible to quantitatively denote a difference between the sample block cut face picture and the virtual sliced piece picture, so that the judgment on whether the sliced piece is good or not good can be more easily performed.

[0037]According to this invention, the sliced piece can be continuously cut from plural sample blocks with the fear failing in making the sliced piece specimen being small even if continuously operated and, moreover, without causing the hand to intervene.

Problems solved by technology

In other words, only in the case where there has been judged good by the valuation means, the sample block is exchanged and, in the case not good, the sliced piece is cut again from the same sample block, so that the fear of failing to make the sliced piece specimen is very small even if continuously operated.

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